Occasionally, J-1 Exchange Visitors at other US institutions receive an offer from UAB and need to transfer their underlying J-1 immigration document to UAB via the SEVIS database.

Federal J-1 regulations allow such transfers when two conditions are met:

• The purpose of the transfer is to complete the objective for which the Exchange Visitor was originally admitted to the US (i.e., they will continue to pursue research or training at UAB in the same field as they are undertaking at their current institution), and
• The Exchange Visitor remains within the same J-1 participant category (i.e., Research Scholar, Professor, Short-Term Scholar, or Student Intern).

Exchange Visitors transferring to UAB from another US institution must follow the same procedure as an initial J-1:

• Information for Initial - Postdoc/IVS

In addition, exchange visitors must complete a transfer clearance form. Transferring exchange visitors must contact an international scholar advisor or A/RO at their current institution to initiate this process. ISSS will need a copy of the current Form DS-2019 and a description of the research project at the exchange visitor's current institution in order to determine whether the opportunity at UAB aligns with the exchange visitor's original research objectives.